Mash stood around and waited for the elf to approach them. She had reached the island and was now walking toward them casually, all while waving the white flag in the air. He turned his head as he noticed the black-furred beastmen from earlier approaching him.

The man’s clothes were stained by his own blood, both black and red. He shuffled a little as he walked up to Mash, and then he bowed. It was the kind of bow that even kings wouldn’t receive. The beastman bent at the waist, and then lower still until Mash could see the back of his neck. The man spoke toward the ground.

“Thank you for giving me back my life.”

Mash was quick to stop the man. He did not want thanks for something he hadn’t meant to do.

“Wait, I didn’t even know that would happen. It was complete chance.”

He felt so awkward talking to the back of someone’s head and could never understand why anyone would want this. Thankfully, the man raised his head to respond.

“I can breathe again. I can feel. Even as an accident, it is a greater gift than I deserve.”

His words were marred by the tears that streamed down his eyes. Seeing an adult like him cry like that was odd, and Mash didn’t really know how to respond. The beastman wasn’t the only one to show his gratitude, as the others also approached Mash and bowed or made another similar gesture. Notably, the silvery elf only tilted his head, but that alone seemed to be meaning thing for him. Mash took it all in and fidgeted awkwardly a little. Even though this wasn’t the first time he received something like this, he still didn’t like it.

He was no god or king to want or earn gratitude. No, he was a monster, a creature bound to act on its own instincts and nothing else. His actions would have consequences good and bad, and he would need to live with them. This was just one of those, and there would be others. Accepting that eased his worries, and he stood a little straighter. Just as he accepted their gratitude now, he would accept the scorn and hatred that would soon follow. He nodded to each of them and turned toward the nearby forest as the elf woman appeared.

She had just turned a corner and appeared beside a tree. Mash had been able to see her with his domain earlier, but he was not prepared for the colors that he saw now. The elf was short, only a little taller than Red was. She had long hair, that was pink at the top and blue at the ends. She wore simple, yet obviously expensive clothing. They seemed like plain white robes upon a quick glance, but a closer inspection revealed a delicate embroidery woven into the cloth, with a thread that was just barely a different color than the rest of the robe. It was so faint that he doubted many of the people here had even noticed it. She had an ageless beauty about her, and large blue eyes that were open too widely. It seemed the innocent gaze of a child, but Mash could tell, that she was anything but a child, let alone innocent.

Other than her physical appearance, Mash noticed several smaller magical items on her. Earrings that radiated a gentle magic, and he could roughly guess that it was used for translation or communication. A necklace with a golden engraving that would shield her somehow, and a bracelet that would cloak and hide her from something. Her robe was magical too and would be hard like armor, though Mash bet it was inferior to his own. The final thing was a small bag that was looped over her shoulder. It appeared to be a simple brown bag, but he knew that it was likely a specially made-storage item.

The elf seemed to know the moment that she had caught his eye because she waved and called out to him. She needed to shout, and she did so with gusto. Too much, as her voice peaked and broke several times.

“I am Fate! I’m not an enemy. I am here to help!”

Mash didn’t recognize the name, and he glanced about, only to find that no one did. He was a little surprised at that, considering that this woman was definitely over level 200 and would probably be famous. At the very least, he expected Red to know something. Since none of them recognized the name. He stepped closer and spoke back to her. He didn’t shout yet used magic to carry his voice on the wind.

“And?”

The elf visibly sighed in relief, her shoulders sagging as she closed the distance a little. Mash didn’t know what he had done to give her such comfort. The elven woman shouted again, her voice peaking.

“Wait, let me get closer!”

She paused and took a deep breath before continuing.

“I don’t want to shout!”

After shouting all of that, she stopped and simply watched them. Mash nodded and responded simply.

“Okay.”

She strolled forward confidently, completely uncaring of him or the others. That was a stupid attitude to have, but he let her be. As the elf closed the distance, Mash felt several other people rise to stand behind him. Valeria and Luke rose, standing while continuing to cling to one another. Toroken didn’t stand, but he raised his head and loomed over them. However, it was the silvery elf from earlier who walked up beside Mash.

“Know your place!”

The silver-haired elf roared with noticeable anger. He stomped up to the Elf and puffed his chest out arrogantly. Fate approached with utmost confidence and stood just before the elf. She spoke softly, her voice almost a whisper.

“Loran, you are a fool. I know you lost your class and levels.”

Mash wasn’t the only one to hear that, and Valeria pushed past Luke to approach the girl. She grabbed Loran’s shoulder and shoved him backward. The difference in levels and strength between the two made that gesture a lot more violent. Loran’s shoulder crunched loudly as he was thrown backward. A pained wail filled the air for a moment until Luke healed and caught the man. Valeria ignored it and narrowed her eyes at the Elf. She postured like an angry cat, her ears pressed into her hair, as she hissed a question.

“How do you know that?”

Fate didn’t shake under the gaze of someone who could certainly kill him.

“I am the Elven prophet! It’s my job to know such things. And before you ask, yes, I could foresee your questions if I wanted to, but I won’t. It makes talking really hard.”

The elf’s voice was calm and collected, but if she was a prophet, then Mash could guess why. She probably knew that she wouldn’t die here, and thus strutted about like it was completely safe. Valeria raised an eyebrow and stepped back.

“I thought you were older, how old are you, child?”

The elven prophet actually backed down at the comment. Her face reddened, and she turned away as if her ears hadn’t also turned red. It was a telling expression.

“I’m, uh, nineteen. Almost.”

Mash’s eyes widened as did the others. She was almost as young as him and was actually at a higher level than him. That was more than rare. He was well aware of just how impossibly quick his growth had been. He couldn’t help but ask her.

“How did you level that fast?”

Still red-faced, Fate turned to him and responded incredulously.

“Me! You're basically the same level, and half my age.”

Mash looked at her.

“Half your age? I’m sixteen at worst, and that’s if you don’t consider how much I aged when I last used my aspect. I’m probably several centuries old if you do.”

Fate shook her head quickly.

“I’m not counting that, your sixteen which is basically just a kid.”

Mash was about to respond but stopped as he realized what he was doing. He was literally arguing like a child. Considering the fight, he had had a few moments ago, and the way he had spoken to the king before, this just felt stupid.

“Sure… why are you here, though?”

Mash decided to let the subject drop and asked her directly what she wanted. Fate glanced about and hesitated.

“I was being serious, I’m here to help. For one, I can send some of these people home if they want. I mean like Loran.”

He wasn’t exactly sure if that was a good idea or not and turned to Valeria and the others. They traded glances. Most of the people here had been dead or presumed dead and just dumping them back home might not be the best since they didn’t have classes or skills anymore. And some of them wouldn’t even have places to go back to. Then again, could he really know better than a prophet? Valeria answered for him.

“You can help those that trust you.”

Fate nodded and then raised a hand toward Loran. She spoke normally.

“Do you accept, oh fallen king of mine?”

Loran stood tall, pushing aside Luke’s helping hand, and sneered at the girl.

“Of course, send me home! I will not stay fallen for long!”

Fate rolled her eyes, and with a blink of an eye, Loran vanished. Mash had felt the magic but had let it happen. Teleportation, which was very similar to Jill’s. That plus foresight meant that she was basically the same as Jill. He couldn’t help but wonder if that was what Jill would get next. Probably not, considering her goal. Fate turned toward the other people, and none hopped on the offer like Loran. Mash cleared the air a bit.

“She just teleported him. Back home if I had to guess.”

Jill who must have recognized the magic nodded in agreement.

[Can we trust her?]

The message came from Lisa, and it made him flinch. She rarely questioned anyone, and he wondered what she saw that he didn’t. Maybe he should be a bit more careful around this elf, even if she did feel weak. However, that was not as easy as it sounded. Fate, for all she was high-level, didn’t feel like she was. All that strong, but that didn’t make sense considering her age. Her class would need to be really good at killing things to level that fast.

[I don’t know.]

He sent the message back as Valeria stepped between Fate and the others. Her words were cool, and her hand raised to ward her off.

“Sit down for now, Fate. The others said they will wait for the dragons.”

“Dragons!”

Fate’s voice cracked, and Mash began wondering just how prophetic she really was. Fate did something though. Her eyes turned completely white, as if her irises had dissolved. Then her eyes darted around rapidly for a few moments before they returned to normal. That was among the most creepy things Mash had ever seen, and he shuddered as Fate looked up in excitement.